DP World Maputo
forecast a 50% increase in
throughput by Q3 2018,
with a further progression
to 350 000 TEUs by the
end of 2020, said Tejas
Nataraj, CEO at DP World
Maputo.
He told FTW that
the terminal operator
had now laid the
platform for sustained
throughput growth,
having just completed
the refurbishment of the
terminal’s operational
area, which included
10 hectares of new yard
paving, 22x40m lighting
masts and six rubber-tyred
gantry (RTG) cranes
“Furthermore, with the
completion of the new rail
siding, DP World Maputo
can now offer the essential
quick and efficient link
to the hinterland areas of
South Africa, Swaziland
and Zimbabwe,” added
Tejas, pointing out that
DP World saw Maputo
as the “ideal gateway”
for the export of citrus
from the Mpumalanga
and Limpopo regions of
South Africa. “We have
committed to providing the
infrastructure to support
this trade by upgrading
our reefer capacity to 400
plugs by March 2018,” he
said.
The terminal has also
seen a steady rise in
containerised mineral
exports via Maputo during
2017 and is looking to
further grow exports of
this commodity through
its partnership with
the Maputo Intermodal
Container Depot (MICD) –
which is able to pack 200
million tonnes per annum
of minerals within the port
area.
According to him, the
port’s bulk mineral exports
are a “great success story”
where cargo owners and
shippers are reaping the
rewards of a “superior
export link”.
Tejas conceded that
the outdated historical
perception of Maputo
as being a costly and
a difficult logistical
challenge, along with
the traditional logistics
practice of “that’s the way
it’s always been done”, does
hinder the adoption of the
Maputo corridor as a clear,
viable shipping option.
“But we see this as
an opportunity rather
than a handicap and
now that the terminal’s
infrastructure has been
developed to support
trade, cargo owners/
shippers can benefit from
a geographically superior
option and a terminal
operator who is eager to
actively collaborate with
supply chain players in
order to develop trade for
the mutual benefit of all
parties,” said Tejas.
CAPTION
An aerial view of the DP World Maputo terminal.
